Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Zhubei City

For one person, living costs are similar in Jeju and in Zhubei City: $1,107 and $1,055 a month, rent and utilities included.

Jeju
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,107
/mo nomad
Zhubei City
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,055
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jeju and in Zhubei City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jeju and in Zhubei City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,107 per month in Jeju vs $1,055 in Zhubei City, rent included.

  • Jeju $1,107
  • Zhubei City $1,055

A couple spends around $1,900 per month in Jeju vs $1,841 in Zhubei City, rent included.

  • Jeju $1,900
  • Zhubei City $1,841

A family of three spends $2,694 per month in Jeju vs $2,627 in Zhubei City, rent included.

  • Jeju $2,694
  • Zhubei City $2,627

Jeju costs about 5% more than Zhubei City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Jeju and Zhubei City are more affordable than the global median – Jeju 18% lower, Zhubei City 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.40 ₩9,835
$4.83 NT$157
53.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.2 ₩70.7K
$28.00 NT$908
89.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.44 ₩7,233
$5.07 NT$164
7.30%
Cappuccino
$5.75 ₩7,640
$2.89 NT$93.8
98.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 ₩2,945
$0.91 NT$29.41
142.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 ₩2,575
$0.59 NT$19.02
228.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.44 ₩4,578
$1.93 NT$62.5
78.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 ₩4,050
$2.33 NT$75.6
30.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ₩2,998
$2.79 NT$90.4
-19.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 ₩3,060
$1.87 NT$60.7
22.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.21 ₩2,941
$4.59 NT$149
-51.85%
Eggs
$2.59 ₩3,444
$2.85 NT$92.5
-9.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$24.76 NT$803
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$8.37 NT$271
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$25.93 NT$841
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$4.04 NT$131
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.16 ₩2,867
$2.42 NT$78.5
-10.74%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.69 NT$87.3
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$3.27 NT$106
-
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 ₩4,047
$3.02 NT$97.9
0.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 ₩2,454
$2.02 NT$65.5
-8.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 ₩2,908
$2.06 NT$66.9
6.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₩620
$1.33 NT$43.25
-64.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.88 NT$126
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.22 ₩14.9K
$9.23 NT$299
21.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 ₩2,490
$1.43 NT$46.36
30.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₩2,200
$2.33 NT$75.4
-29.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 ₩1,370
$0.61 NT$19.85
68.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.10 NT$101
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.64 NT$20.76
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$9.25 NT$300
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₩1,762
$0.99 NT$32.17
34.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$33.5K NT$1.1M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.8K NT$805.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 ₩287.8K
$103 NT$3,331
110.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.7 ₩71.4K
$18.96 NT$615
183.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.50 ₩25.9K
$22.80 NT$739
-14.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$31.40 NT$1,018
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.99 NT$324
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$646 NT$20.9K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.3K ₩33.6M
$16.5K NT$533.8K
53.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6 ₩68.6K
$57.7 NT$1,870
-10.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.38 ₩40.4K
$31.13 NT$1,010
-2.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.5 ₩88.5K
$90.8 NT$2,946
-26.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.7 ₩119.2K
$99.0 NT$3,209
-9.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₩614.5K
$501 NT$16.2K
-7.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 ₩506.9K
$217 NT$7,032
75.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,369 ₩1.8M
$1,100 NT$35.7K
24.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,174 ₩1.6M
$768 NT$24.9K
52.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.3K ₩13.8M
$16.2K NT$525.9K
-36.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,733 ₩9.0M
$9,751 NT$316.2K
-30.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,856 ₩2.5M
$2,391 NT$77.5K
-22.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
2.4
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jeju: October 11, 2026

Last update for Zhubei City: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Jeju
$381
Zhubei City
$217 43.1% $164
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeju
$290
Zhubei City
$144 50.1% $145
Eating Out
Jeju
$184
Zhubei City
$109 41% $76
Groceries & Markets
Jeju
$140 *
Zhubei City
$400 186% $260
Clothing & Footwear
Jeju
$107
Zhubei City
$125 17% $18
Getting Around
Jeju
$4.1 *
Zhubei City
$8.8 * 112% $4.6
Sport & Entertainment
Jeju
- *
Zhubei City
$51

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $462 in Jeju versus $501 in Zhubei City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 29% higher in Zhubei City, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Jeju versus $28.00 in Zhubei City. Groceries tell a different story – $140 in Jeju vs $400 in Zhubei City – so Jeju wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Jeju
🇹🇼 Zhubei City
🕒 Local time
08:27 8:27 AM
07:27 7:27 AM
1 h behind Jeju
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
469,279
211,746
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TWD, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 32.43 TWD (100 TWD = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 36.46 TWD (100 TWD = 2.74 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Jeju Zhubei City 1,100 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Jeju
  • Zhubei City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Jeju vs Zhubei City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zhubei City cheaper than Jeju?
Yes – Jeju is pricier by about 5%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,660 per month in Jeju and $1,583 in Zhubei City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zhubei City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Jeju and in Zhubei City?
Interestingly, groceries are about 185% cheaper in Jeju – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Jeju or in Zhubei City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Jeju and $28.00 in Zhubei City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Jeju or in Zhubei City?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zhubei City, where all-in costs run around $1,055, than in Jeju at $1,107. In Zhubei City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Jeju or Zhubei City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zhubei City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Jeju or Zhubei City?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Zhubei City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jeju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Jeju vs other spots: cost of living compared

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